Leaving the papers given to her and official websites, she opened the software she’d created with a friend. That little piece of code could interpret algorithms or patterns and to clear all the noise to find more precise information.
The goal of her investigation was to find the invisible hole Finch used to redirect his money.
Once she let the software run, she stretched a little. Her neck was stiff, and her shoulders screamed from being immobile for so long.
Catriona looked around and started to see the first flickers of sunlight coming through the windows. The morning air must have been cold as the glow was flickering over the frosted glass like a kaleidoscope. Another day closer to Christmas, but it was the first time she’d ever felt so disconnected from this holiday.
Tired and lost, Catriona considered laying down for a moment to empty her mind, but her being pulled to the computer, and what it could discover beyond what she’d had found.
In the morning light, she stood and joined her hands, a prayer on the tip of her tongue, but unable to pass the barrier of her lips.
It was the very first time she couldn’t find refuge inside herself and say the words she knew so well.
A bell sounded, stopping her thoughts. With a frown, she sat in front of her computer. Error messages popped in multiple windows, which wasn’t usual. The program was set to backtrack when it came to a dead-end and try another route to find information so it didn’t get stuck.
The software had done precisely that, and she killed them all. However, once the red notifications were gone, three computer windows showed results.
Immediately, she recognized offshore locations she’d encountered in other investigations. It was only a first readthrough, but she couldn’t stop. Only when her eyes froze on a name did the world went still.
Even if she doubted the computer had made a mistake, Catriona rechecked everything manually. As the brightening light bathed the apartment, her mood darkened until there was no doubt in her mind.
On her screen, one name was linked to three potential accounts: Lazarus King. The information was rock solid and undeniable, and it now brought to the table a new possibility that was chilling: Finch was not the only one hiding money and using it for fraudulent or violent purposes. Even worse, those accounts had been feeding off Finch’s account for a long time too.
Going through all the transactions linked to one of the accounts, one large amount had been transferred to a private security group. A name she’d seen in the files Liam had brought from the police station. It took some time to find it as her hands trembled and her body shook, but when she saw it, her blood froze. The group had been identified as hired guns. Could they be the same people who attacked them earlier?
Had Gabrielle been wrong? Had her friend been blindsided and not seen that the very brother who rallied his siblings against an evil father was also evil? There was no doubt he was getting rich off his father, the proof in front of her eyes undeniable. Was Liam aware of it? Was he an accomplice? What would she find that if she kept digging? Were the brothers playing Gabrielle to cover up their own dealings?
Catriona got her phone and tried once more to call Gabrielle, and once more, she was redirected to her voicemail. This time, she left a more urgent message.
What could she do? What should she do? Liam’s silvery eyes popped into her mind again, and she wondered if he’d been lying all along. Sensing her wayward thoughts, Chewy pushed his head under her palm, and she stroked his soft fur for a moment, hoping her brain came up with another solution, another option.
Locking her computer, she got to her feet and grabbed her bag. Deep in the silence of the apartment, Catriona felt as if she was screaming, her entire being commanding her to get out now, and be safe.
Her mind may doubt, but numbers couldn’t lie, and it was clear she was in danger as at least one of the brothers was hiding information. It wouldn’t surprise her to discover that all of them weren’t so different from their father after all.
Her heart was adamant that she was wrong, but her mind knew what she’d discovered. To save herself and live another day, there was only one thing to do. Making sure Chewy was well and that he had food and water, she took one last look at the small apartment before shutting the door behind her and leaving.
